The protest of farmers in Delhi has caused a lot of trouble. It’s been three days ever since hundreds of farmers have been protesting at the Khanauri and Shambhu borders as part of their Delhi Chalo call. People who are commuting from these borders are finding difficulties in reaching their destinations. In the last two days, the commuters faced heavy jams, but on Wednesday, 14th Feb 2024, the flow of traffic was largely smooth through the main borders of Delhi with Gurgaon at UP Gate, Sirhaul, Chilla, and Kalindi Kunj and Noida, Ghaziabad as restrictions were alleviated by police and other lanes were opened to make a smooth traffic flow.
What New Problems Will Be Faced By People Due to Farmer’s Protest?
According to the reports, many other major unions of farmers have shown their participation and support to farmers who are protesting in Delhi and now they are planning to block railways. The reports state that BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner faction), and the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) announced a rail roko (stop trains) in Punjab. The “rail roko” will happen on Thursday, 15th February 2024 between 12:00 PM and 04:00 PM. In addition to this, the umbrella body of 37 farm unions, Samyukt Kisan Morcha also endorsed the ongoing farmer’s protest.
It is noteworthy that these unions have played crucial roles in the 2021 protest and now their support in the ongoing protest will leave a huge impact. These unions have cited the “condemnable use of violence” against Indian farmers. Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, the general secretary of BKU (Ugrahan) announced “We stand with them in solidarity. To prove it, our supporters will hold rail roko (stop trains) at as many places as we can.” According to him, the protestors will block the railway tracks in the state of Punjab between 12:00 PM and 04:00 PM on Thursday and on Friday, 16th February 2024, the nationwide strike will happen.
Why Are Farmers Protesting?
After two years, the farmers from the Northern part again started a protest on Delhi’s roads. The farmers are asking or demanding guaranteed prices for their crops along with other agricultural reforms. No doubt, this protest has become a headache for the government and other citizens as well. Some are in favour of the farmer’s protest and some are against it. But what major issues or reforms protests are demanding? These questions are surely prevailing in the minds of many people.
According to the farmers, the central government has failed to fulfil the promises that they made at the time of the 2020-21 protest. This time, the northern belt farmers are demanding pensions and wanting to waive their debts. They also want strict action against those who sell fake seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides. Farmers want the central government to double the number of work days under the rural employment guarantee scheme to 200. Moreover, they are demanding the government take out the name of India from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and scrap all free trade agreements. They also want a minimum support price for their crops.
The reports state that the three Union Ministers are planning to meet the leaders of the farmers in Chandigarh for the 3rd round of the talks. The initial two rounds were failed and inconclusive but ministers are hoping the third round to be fruitful. Sarwan Singh Pandher, the leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee states that the meeting will be held with union ministers. Nityanand Rai, Arjun Munda, and Piyush Goyal at around 05:00 PM.
